Miniature rose plant `Cheer Up`

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, named `Cheer Up`, which is characterized by its bright orange-red blooms, ranging from Mandarin Red to Capsicum Red, usually one to a stem with hybrid tea form. The bush is vigorous, well-branched and produces moderate to heavy quantities of bloom.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a hardy,dwarf, bush plant of the miniature class; the variety being primarilycharacterized as an orange-red.

The variety is further characterized by:

Long stemmed blooms of hybrid tea-type form, borne usually one to a stembut on occasion in sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The blooms are held veryerect and well above the foliage.

It has a slight fragrance.

The plant ranges in height from 24 to 36 inches (approximately 60 to 90cm). The canes are sturdy and erect with moderate branching and mediumto heavy foliage covering. The plant is a moderate to heavy bloomer thatdoes well either in the green house or outdoors.

The plant has good growth habits, well-shaped and attractive, bearingnumerous leaflets of average size.

The seed parent was Futura (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,569), and the pollenparent was Bread 'n Butter (miniature rose plant, orange blend; CeciliaBennett; introduced by Tiny Petals Nursery, 1985). It differs from itsseed parent in the following ways. It is a miniature rose withappropriately small bloom size (3 to 4 cm) and plant height (24 to 36inches), and Futura is a hybrid tea rose with blooms of 10 to 12 cm anda plant height in excess of 5 feet. It differs from its pollen parent inthe following ways. It is an orange-red, and Bread 'n Butter is anorange blend with softer tones of orange and yellow blending andreverse.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to roses grown and colorvalues observed in plants and newly opened blooms in the months Marchthrough August 1986. The plants were grown outdoors in Chula Vista,Calif., and are believed to be accurate standards for this cultivar insimilar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

The color photograph illustrates the variety.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant named `Cheer Up`, the following is a detailed descriptionthereof in outline; all major color plate identifications being byreference to the British Colour Council Horticultural Colour Chart,except where common terms of color definition are employed.

Type: Hardy, upright, spreading, green house or outdoor, decorative andexhibition potted plant.

Class: Miniature.

Variety name: CHEER UP

Flowers borne: Usually one to a stem, but occasionally in sprays of 3 to5 or more on erect stems with foliage well below the blooms.

Quantity of bloom: Moderate to heavy both outdoors or green house grown.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Variable in length (30 to 40 mm); average diameter andsturdy; ranging in color from near Scheeles Green (860/3 to 860/2 page175) to near Lettuce Green (861/2 to 861/1 page 176) with some tintingof bronze.

Hairs.--Extremely small and numerous with a reddish color; located overthe entire surface of the peduncle and sepals, but not present on thecalyx tube.

Calyx.--Color ranging from near Scheeles Green (860/3 to 860/2 page 175)to near Lettuce Green (861/2 to 861/1 page 176).

Opening.--Opens well in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Average for a miniature variety (30 to 40 mm).

Petalage.--Full -- Averaging 25 to 30 petals, arranged regularly, pluspetaloids (3 to 5 or more).

Form.--Urn-shaped to ovoid as the bloom progresses. The petals remain atfirst somewhat tightly cupped with the apex and/or margins reflexedoutward, becoming at maturity more loosely cupped; and the petals reflexmore tightly (quilling), until each row of petals forms a five-pointedstar.

Petals: Fairly thick with good substance; both the upper and undersurfaces of all petals have a matte finish.

Shape.--Outer petals are of a very broad obovate form. The intermediatepetals are very much like the outer petals only narrower. The innerpetals are a broad lanceolate form; and the petaloids are alsolanceolate form with some occasional irregularities.

Color: Newly opened flowers from plants grown outdoors (March throughAugust 1986), Chula Vista, Calif.

All petals.--Upper and under surfaces -- Ranging from near Mandarin Red(17/1 to 17 page 17) to near Capsicum Red (715/2 to 715/1 page 715) witha tip of near Mimosa Yellow (602/1 to 602 page 602).

General color effect.--Newly opened flower -- Bright orange-red withonly a slight fading of the outer petals as the bloom opens. to

Flower longevity.--(March to August 1986) Plant in pot 5 to 7 days frombud with sepals reflexed to fully opened bloom. Holding at fully openedwith slight fading of the color for 3 to 5 days or longer. Cut blooms atliving room temperature 4 to 7 days or longer.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--A generous amount arranged uniformly around the pistil.

Filaments.--Varying in length with shorter filaments more proximal tothe pistil; golden yellow including the anthers.

Pollen.--Abundant.

Pistil.--Long, abundant and spreading; pale yellow at the base toreddish at the top with pale yellow caps on the styles.

Ovaries.--All encased in calyx.

Hips.--Some.

Seeds.--3 to 5 or more in each hip.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear-shaped; open as the bloom opens; recurvingagainst the peduncle, when the bloom is fully opened.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Five to seven leaflets on the average; medium size for aminiature rose plant.

Leaflets.--Broad ovate-shaped.

Margin.--Very serrated with tinting of bronze, especially noticeable onthe newer foliage.

Color.--Ranging from near Spinach Green (0960/3 to 0960/2 page 175) tonear Lettuce Green (861/1 to 861 page 176) with occasional bronzing ofthe margins, especially noticeable on the newer foliage. Upper surfaceshave a semi-glossy finish, and the under surfaces have a matte finish ofa slightly lighter shade than the upper surfaces.

Rachis.--Medium strength; upper surface is grooved with very small hairsover the length of it. Under surface has few if any hairs but doescontain 2 to 5 small thorns.

Stipules.--Varying in length from small to medium; average width;tapering auricles angled outward at about 45 degrees.

Growth:

Habit.--Upright and spreading; average to tall height for a miniaturerose plant.

Growth.--Vigorous and well-branched.

Canes.--Medium diameter; sturdy; held erect.

Main stems.--Color -- Ranging from near Scheeles Green (0960/3 to 0960/2page 175) to near Lettuce Green (861/1 to 861 page 861).

Thorns.--Averaging 25 to 30 per 10 cm on the main stems and fewer on thebranches. Reddish in color, especially on the newer branches. Small toaverage in size. Slender and straight.

Branches.--Color -- Same as main stems.

I have found this variety to be easily asexually reproduced fromcuttings, with flowers borne usually one to a stem but occasionally insprays of 3 to 5 or more.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climate, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown at Chula Vista, Calif.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant named, `Cheer Up` of hardy, dwarf, vigorous growth,well-branched and attractive in appearance, substantially as illustratedand described, characterized by its blooms of bright orange-red, rangingfrom near Mandarin Red to near Capsicum Red.